threshing
Quick Summary
Threshing is an agricultural process used to separate grain or seeds from their husks and straw. Historically, this was done by hand with a flail or by having animals trample the harvested crops. Early mechanical threshers, patented in the mid-19th century, were powered by animals or steam engines. By the 20th century, large stationary threshers were common, but they have largely been replaced by combines, which perform both reaping and threshing in a single operation. The word "thresh" can also refer to other actions, such as striking repeatedly or making jerky movements, but in agriculture, it specifically denotes the separation of grain.123
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